Christmas Carol Murder

Title: Christmas Carol Murder

Author: Leslie Meier [Website][Facebook]

Publisher: Kensington Books

Series: Lucy Stone Mystery, Bk 20

ISBN: 9780758277015

Length: 262 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

It's the most recent in the series and perfect for the season.

Why I shouldn't have read this book (yet)?:

I think I read Chocolate Covered Murder (Bk 18), though I never posted it.  Unfortunately, it seems I failed to read Easter Bunny Murder (Bk 19).  I could kick myself!  This is not a good series to read out of order.

Comments:

This book looks at the financial hardship experienced by many in the U.S. over the past several years.  Especially hitting on the housing market and foreclosures.   There was a brief mention of the upcoming health care plan and the confusion people are feeling.   Especially as relates to a family with a very ill child.  These elements work for the overall A Christmas Carol theme.

I did not guess the murderer from among the many suspects.  However, I felt at least one of the characters was inconsistent from the first mention in the story to the second.  And there were some side elements that I thought had an obvious conclusion much sooner than it did.

I have mixed feeling about this series.  I'm 20 books in (nearly) and still reading.  So something is good/interesting enough to keep me going.  But after I finish a book in this series, I generally feel it was just okay.  What's up with that?  ::shrug::

Since last we spoke...

I've picked up the pace on my reading.  It'll have to hold me over for the next week, because work's going to take over, what with co-workers requesting off for the Halloween weekend.  I've read...

Pale Demon  (The Hollows, Bk 9) by Kim Harrison (library copy) - Another enjoyable book about Rachel Morgan.  I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series, A Perfect Blood.

Moving is Murder  (Mom Zone Mystery, Bk 1) by Sara Rosett  (library copy) - An enjoyable cozy.  I'll be moving on with this series as soon as I catch up with some other library books I have out.

A Taste of Nightlife (Vampire Chef Mystery, Bk 1) by Sarah Zettel (purchased at Borders closing sale) - I really liked this vampire cozy, and I'm looking forward to reading the next, Let Them Eat Stake.

English Tea Murder (Lucy Stone Mystery, Bk 17) by Leslie Meier (library copy) - The writing was fine, but I didn't like the ending.  I got it, just didn't like it.  I can't say more without major spoilers.

The Homing Instinct (Harlequin Silhouette Romance, No 747) by Dixie Browning (personal copy - used from ???) - A nice quick read.  This is why I like Harlequin/Silhouette.

Butterface (Short Story - scroll down a little for the desc.) by Gwen Hayes (ebook given by author through Trick or Treat event [10/24/11 - 10/31/11]) - I was intrigued the moment I read the description, and I read it as soon as I downloaded it.  I had no idea what a butterface is. =/  I liked it, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it.  The ending was a bit abrupt, but it was a short story so that's pretty typical.

Nine Lives Last Forever (Cats and Curios Mystery, Bk 2) by Rebecca M. Hale (personal copy - from paperbackswap.com) - This series is driving me nuts.  I bought the 3rd one new (Border's closing sale), and I'm supposed to mail it off for a swap.  I'd like to read it first.  But BOTH the 1st book and this one were hard for me to get into.  It's not really a someone is murdered, let's figure out who did it kind of mystery.  That's part of the problem.  It's in multiple viewpoints.  That's another.  And there is so much description and detail about San Fransisco history that I don't care to go into such depth about... There's a third.  I was tempted not to finish, but it managed to pick up (finally) 2/3s in.  We'll have to see if I manage the 3rd.  It has to be mailed by Nov. 2.

Light on the reading...

Since the last post, I've read:

Sealed with a Kill by Lucy Lawrence (library copy) - I enjoyed it, not as much as the 1st 2 books, but still.  And this series has lead to more, if you continue to read into my post...

Wicked Witch Murder by Leslie Meier - I liked this one better than the last few Leslie Meier books I read, so I'm happy.  Hoping the next book is as enjoyable.

Glazed Murder by Jessica Beck - Kind of had a slow start with this one, but it picked up part way in.  I'll have to see where the series goes from here.

So I haven't been reading as much.  It's mostly the usual ... life.  But I noticed part of it was because of books.  Sounds like a contradiction - but it isn't.

I've mentioned before that after reading Monica Ferris's Needlecraft Mysteries I took a crochet class.  Well now that I've read Lucy Lawrence (Jenn McKinlay)'s Decoupage Mysteries, I've been trying (it's more difficult than I thought) to do decoupage.  My sister and I have been been practicing and working on little projects together for the past 4 weeks.

    I did something similar to this - different color scheme - for my ma's birthday gift.  My sister became interested when I brought my finished project over to show her.  

Anyway, this is good because it means we're spending more time together.  But it also contributes to my decline in time spent reading.   So do your books influence your life, beyond the time spent actually reading them? (or the physical space they consume)?

Update:

My first decoupage project.  It hasn't been hung on the wall yet. 

Star Spangled Murder

Title: Star Spangled Murder

Author: Leslie Meier

Publisher: Kensington

Copyright Date: 2004

Print Date: June 2004

ISBN: 157566836X

Pages: 234

Series: 11th in the Lucy Stone Mystery series

Book Description (from dust jacket):

Lucy Stone is in the doghouse — with her next-door neighbor Mrs. Prudence Pratt. It seems that Kudo, the Stones' misbehaving mutt, has developed a taste for Mrs. Pratt's blue-ribbon winning chickens. And he's also developed an escape artist's talent for sneaking out, no matter how hard Lucy tries to keep him on her property. With the Fourth of July coming up, Lucy doesn't want to set off any more fireworks with the crabby Prudence.

As if Lucy needed any other sign that the crazy days of summer are in full swing, a group of naturists — a.k.a. nudists — descends on Tinker's Cove, skinny-dipping at the pond which borders Mrs. Pratt's property, and giving her another reason to complain. To make matters worse, the local lobstermen are upset about poachers — and suspicion falls on Mrs. Pratt's husband and son. Then the July Fourth fireworks are canceled to protect a patch of extremely rare purple-spotted lichen.

The whole town is in an uproar — and Lucy is kept on her toes covering the goings-on for the Pennysaver newspaper. But the biggest story of her career occurs right next door when Mrs. Pratt is the victim of a hit-and-run. Tinker's Cove is full of suspects, but none with so personal a motive as the Stones. Their feud with Mrs. Pratt has put Lucy and her family at risk of losing their freedom this Independence Day — unless Lucy can start things off with a bang by catching a red, white and blue killer...

Comments:

The Prologue was interesting and the Epilogue was cute. As for the story in between... there were several issues to be solved and Lucy was involved to some degree with all of them. Sometimes personally, sometimes in the process of her reporting... until, that is, her personal involvement got in the way of the reporting. And that was sort of interesting in and of itself. This is one of the better Lucy Stone Mysteries I've read.

Next for Lucy Stone... 2 full books, 1 short story, followed by 2 more full books. I own the these, so once I get started with New Year's Eve Murder, I'll probably keep going 'til I've finished.

Combo - Review: Leslie Meier

Title: Wedding Day Murder
Author: Leslie Meier
Publisher: Kensington Mystery
Copyright Date: 2001
ISBN: 1575667347
Pages: 228 + untitled 5-page Short Story (Lucy remembers and tells daughter Zoe about her wedding day)
Series: 8th book in the Lucy Stone Mystery series
Where I got this book: Checked out from Library
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Title: Birthday Party Murder
Author: Leslie Meier
Publisher: Kensington
Copyright Date: 2002
ISBN: 1575668327
Pages: 256
Series: 9th book in the Lucy Stone Mystery series
Where I got this book: Checked out from Library
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Title: Father's Day Murder
Author: Leslie Meier
Publisher: Kensington
Copyright Date: 2003
ISBN: 1575668343
Pages: 234
Series: 10th book in the Lucy Stone Mystery series
Where I got this book: Checked out from Library
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Comments:

Sometimes, while I read these, I'd find myself irritated with Lucy. Other times, I was more annoyed with various members of Lucy's family. And then there were times when I was irritated with other characters. I guess the best way to look at this is Who isn't sometimes irritated with the people around them? — whether they be family, friends, neighbors... I think as Leslie Meier has continued to write, she found a way to capture the good parts of people as well as those irritating parts.

So while I don't love this series, I'll keep reading it. Because I like seeing how Tinker's Cove and Lucy Stone's family are coming along. And because I'm interested in following along with an amateur sleuth who has the unlikely tendency of stumbling across (and getting mixed up in) murder and mayhem... while reminding myself about the reality of human foibles.

Turkey Day Murder

Title: Turkey Day Murder

Author: Leslie Meier

Publisher: Kensington Mystery

Copyright Date: 2000

Print Date: October 2001

ISBN: 1575666855

Pages: 230 + Lucy's Thanksgiving Day menu

Series: 7th in the Lucy Stone mystery series

Book Description (from back cover):

Tinker's Cove has a long history of Thanksgiving festivities, from visits with TomTom Turkey to the annual Warriors high school football game and Lucy Stone's impressive pumpkin pie. But this year, someone has added murder to the menu, and Lucy intends to discover who left Metinnicut Indian activist Curt Nolan deader than the proverbial Thanksgiving turkey — with an ancient war club next to his head.

The list of suspects isn't exactly a brief one. Nolan had a habit of disagreeing with just about everybody he met. Between fixing dinner for twelve and keeping her four kids from tearing each other limb from limb, Lucy has a pretty full plate already. So what's a little investigation? But if she's not careful, she just may find herself served up as a last-minute course, stone-cold dead with all the trimmings...

Comments:

Turkey Day Murder's murder was centered around cultural issues with some political and financial issues stirred in. Issues include: the official recognition of an American Indian tribe, who should rightfully possess cultural artifacts, American Indian tribes opening casinos, whether a casino opening would help or hurt the local community, etc.

Meanwhile, Lucy's oldest child, Toby, is visiting for the holiday — his first visit since leaving for college. I can't say I was happy with how the returning child thing was portrayed. It wasn't accurate for me, but then, I certainly wasn't the average college student.

Also, Lucy takes on a dog in this book. I can only say I will be extremely frustrated if she dumps it within the next book or two the way she did the kittens from book 2 in the series.

Christmas Cookie Murder

Title: Christmas Cookie Murder

Author: Leslie Meier

Publisher: Kensington Mystery - A Partners in Crime Mystery

Copyright Date: 1999

Print Date: October 2000

ISBN: 157566691X

Pages: 232 + 2 recipes

Series: 6th in the Lucy Stone mystery series

Book Description (from back cover):

For Lucy Stone, the best thing about Christmas in Tinker's Cove has always been the annual Cookie Exchange. But the usual generosity and goodwill is missing from this year's event which turns out to be a complete disaster.

Petty rivalries and feuds that have long been simmering finally come to a boil, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of many guests, including Lee Cummings who accuses Tucker Whitney of stealing her recipe for low-fat, sugar-free cookies. But the icing on the cake is when Tucker is found strangled in her apartment on the following morning.

Who could've wanted Tucker dead badly enough to kill her? Despite all of the ingredients for danger, Lucy sets out on the trail of a murderer and soon uncovers a Christmas secret best left wrapped.

Comments:

 It seems Tinker's Cove has a surprising amount of corruption. Although, these books are more spaced out (time-line wise) than many cozies I've read. Anywhere from a year to three can pass between books. I'm not sure if I like this (the kids get older much faster for one thing), but it certainly makes the frequency of murder incidents for an amateur sleuth to get involved with more feasible than those other cozies.

Note: This book does have some teenage drug use (and selling) involved.

Anyway, I've already read the next book Turkey Day Murder, but it may be some time before I read any more. I still have to get books 8-11(or 12...I can't remember).

Valentine Murder

Title: Valentine Murder

Author: Leslie Meier

Publisher: Kensington Mystery - A Partners in Crime Mystery

Copyright Date: 1999

Print Date: January 2000

ISBN: 1575664992

Pages: 248

Series: 5th in the Lucy Stone mystery series

Book Description (from back cover):

It's Valentine's Day in Tinker's Cove. And while the cupcakes Lucy Stone is baking for her children will have pink frosting and candy hearts, Lucy's thoughts aren't centered on sugary sentiments. She's barely arrived at her first board meeting of the newly-renovated library when Bitsy Howell, the new librarian, is found dead in the basement, shot only minutes before story hour was to start. The agitated board members assume that Bitsy was killed by an outsider, until Detective Lt. Horowitz arrives on the scene and announces that the killer is among them.

Lucy was already aware that Bitsy's uppity big city ways rubbed some people in Tinker's Cove the wrong way. But she has a hunch that motives for the librarian's violent death run a lot deeper. From Hayden Norcross's elegant antique shop to Corney Clark's chic kitchen, Lucy relentlessly snoops into the curious lifestyles and shocking secrets of Tinker's Cove's most solid citizens — secrets that will plunge her into a terrifying confrontation with a conniving killer...

Comments:

A Lucy Stone Mystery set around the library. How interesting. Really rather scary actually. What happens if I finally get a job in a library and I have to work with a board like that? ::shudders::

Anyway, each chapter is headed by a line from a fairy tale, fable, nursery rhyme, or other classic childhood tale. Some stories, like The Gingerbread Man lead two chapters and others only one. It was interesting not only identifying the story from the line given, but also seeing how the story fit whatever was happening in the chapter.

I do have to say the story didn't revolve around Valentine's day as much as her other books do with their holidays. The victim has scattered valentine crafts around her when she's discovered and the story technically takes place around February and Valentine's Day, but there isn't much else tying the story to the holiday.

Anyway, I've read the two stories following this one, and intend to read more...

Back to School Murder

Title: Back to School Murder

Author: Leslie Meier

Publisher: Kensington Mystery

Copyright Date: 1997

Print Date: September 1998

ISBN: 1575663309

Pages: 268

Series: 4th in the Lucy Stone mystery series

Book Description (from back cover):

TINKER COVE'S OWN AMATEUR SLEUTH LUCY STONE DISCOVERS THAT SCHOOL DAYS CAN BE MURDER.

It's back to school time in the peaceful Maine town of Tinker's Cover, and for mother-of-four Lucy Stone it isn't a moment too soon. But trouble at the local elementary school soon has the sometime crime-solver juggling family, job, and night classes with another mystery to solve. And it starts with a bank.

A bomb goes off with the noon launch bell, but not before all the kids are safely evacuated, and Carol Crane, the new assistant principal, is hailed as a hero. But days later, Carol is found murdered and everyone is stunned when the most popular teacher at the school is arrested for the crime. However, not everyone is buying the open-and-shut case, including Lucy Stone, who senses there's more to things than meets the eye.

It soon becomes clear that Lucy is flirting with danger, as sizzling secrets and explosive surprises provide a primer for the most diabolical of motives. Hot on the trail of a clever killer, the dedicated mom and seasoned sleuth must harness the coverage and cool aplomb to uncover a crime that just might give her an education in the fine art of murder.

Comments:

I had several issues with this book. I wanted to like it, but I found myself irritated on a number of levels.

 First, an editing mistake. The story makes some references to things that happened in a previous books. These references are followed by asterisks and at the bottom of the page, the name of the book being referred to. Or at least that's how it was supposed to work. The first of these references is to Trick or Treat Murder. But it says Tippy-Toe Murder. I think this bothered me so much because what's the point of having the distraction of these footnotes if they don't provide accurate information?

Second, an inconsistency in the series. Lucy's daughter has an asthma attack, Lucy rushes her to the doctor, the doctor asks about allergies, and Lucy says they got rid of their cat because they discovered Elizabeth is allergic. The thing is, they had 3 kittens in Tippy-Toe Murder. This is a small thing, but animal lover that I am... I would have been devastated if my own allergies or my sisters caused that loss (fortunately, none of us ever had pet allergies). I simply can't imagine forgetting that there were 3 cats, not one, that had to be given up. And my mother wouldn't forget that either.

 Third, and most plot relevant... I REALLY wanted to knock some sense into Lucy. She was playing with fire, risking the happiness of her marriage and family. Adultery/cheating is a huge pet peeve of mine (in fiction and reality). Lucy doesn't actually commit adultery, but she comes too close. I lost quite a bit of respect for her character. And her intelligence. Cozy mysteries in general aren't all that believable, really, but they become even less believable when the amateur sleuth does something so stupid.

 Fortunately, Lucy gets a reality check and improves. Enough for me to continue reading the series despite these irritations. I've already read the next three books following this one, and will presumably read more in the future. (I have a gap in my collection, so I need to get a hold of those missing.)

Trick or Treat Murder

Title: Trick or Treat Murder

Author: Leslie Meier

Publisher: Kensington Mystery

Copyright Date: 1996

Print Date: October 1997

ISBN: 1575662191

Pages: 245

Series: 3rd in the Lucy Stone mystery series

Book Description (from back cover):

HAUNTED-HOUSE PARTIES AND GHOSTLY GALAS. GRINNING PUMPKINS, MAYHEM AND MURDER. IT'S GOING TO BE ONE HECK OF A HALLOWEEN FOR LUCY STONE AND TINKER'S COVE...

It's October in Maine, and everyone in Tinker's Cove is preparing for the annual Halloween festival. While Lucy Stone is whipping up orange-frosted cupcakes, recycling tutus for her daughters' Halloween costumes, helping her son with his pre-teen rebellion, and breast-feeding her brand-new baby, an arsonist is loose in Tinker's Cove. When the latest fire claims the life of the owner of the town's oldest house, arson turns into murder.

While the townsfolk work to transform a dilapidated mansion into a haunted house for the All-Ghouls festival, the hunt for the culprit heats up. Trick-or-treat turns deadly as a little digging in all the wrong places puts Lucy too close to a shocking discovery that could send all her best-laid plans up in smoke...

Comments:

In this third installment of the Lucy Stone mystery series, Lucy has a new baby, the other kids are getting older (of course) and Lucy is getting a taste of what raising a teen is like.

It is a quick read. I don't remember anything really standing out (I've read the next four books in the series since reading this one), but I have become more invested in Lucy Stone's life. And I'm growing to understand the working of Tinker's Cove more now as I progress through the series.

Tippy Toe Murder

Title: Tippy Toe Murder

Author: Leslie Meier

Publisher: Kensington Mystery - Partners in Crime

Copyright Date: 1994

Print Date: October 1996

ISBN: 1575663929

Pages: 240

Series: 2nd Lucy Stone Mystery

Book Description (from back cover):

With three kids underfoot, a fourth on the way, and an oppressive heatwave bearing down, homemaker Lucy Stone is hardly enjoying an idyllic summer. But her preoccupation with swelling ankles, Bavarian creme doughnut cravings, and sewing endless sequins on ballet recital tutus gives way to dread when Lucy learns that her waistline isn't the only thing that's recently vanished from Tinker's Cove...

The strange dissapearance of a retired dance instructor has teh tiny coastal town in a tizzy that turns to terror when the notoriously cantankerous shopkeeper is slain right on Main Street. Now Lucy's up to her bulging belly in local suspects and red herrings. Eluded by a cold-blooded killer, with her due-date looming and thermometer soaring, Lucy figures something has to break soon. With any luck, it won't be her water...

Comments:

First, a note: Cozies in general (this one included) are not very gory or graphic. However, this does have some discussion of domestic abuse and includes one particularly sickening sentence about sexual abuse of an infant. Something for anyone sensitive about such issues to keep in mind.

Anyway... it took me a while to finally start this, but once I did I found it to be an enjoyable story. Each chapter starts with a line of the "pink slip" of instruction to parents regarding what preparation should be made for their children's ballet recitals. Lucy has two mysteries pulling at her. A missing person and a murder. And that's on top of being a mother and wife to a very active family (not to mention 6 months pregnant).

I think the author improved between her Mistletoe Murder and Tippy Toe Murder so I figure there will be even more improvement in her writing over the next 14+ books in the series. I'll be reading the 3rd book in the series, Trick or Treat Murder semi-soon.

Mistletoe Murder

Title: Mistletoe Murder originally titled Mail-Order Murder

Author: Leslie Meier

Publisher: Kensington Mystery

Copyright Date: 1991

Print Date: December 1998

ISBN: 0758203373

Pages: 222

Series: 1st in the Lucy Stone Mystery series.

Book Description (from back cover):

MAIL-ORDER MURDER...

As if baking holiday cookies, knitting a sweater for her husband's gift, and making her daughter's angel costume for the church pageant weren't enough things for Lucy Stone's busy Christmas schedule, she's also working nights at the famous mail-order company Country Cousins. But when she discovers Sam Miller, its very wealthy founder, dead in his car from an apparent suicide, the sleuth in her knows something just doesn't smell right.

Taking time out from her hectic holiday life to find out what really happened, her investigation leads to a backlog of secrets as long as Santa's Christmas Eve route. Lucy is convinced that someone murdered Sam Miller. But who and why? With each harrowing twist she uncovers in this bizarre case, another shocking revelation is exposed. Now, as Christmas draws near and Lucy gets dangerously chose to the truth, she's about to receive a present from Santa she didn't ask for — a killer who won't be satisfied until everyone on his shopping list is dead, including Lucy herself...

Comments:

The support behind the small town of Tinker's Cove, Country Cousins,and the descriptions (found at the start of each chapter) of various products offered by this company were interesting.

Lucy Stone, the heroine, is likable. She's a good wife and mother, a hard worker, generous. In fact, the only thing about her I didn't care for was her tendency to gossip. Oh, I expect gossip to some extent in mysteries with amateur sleuths. How else would she gather her clues? The problem was the way she (and the other town ladies) gossiped. They didn't seem to even be aware of it. They didn't try to hid it or justify it (I'm not necessarily saying that would be better, but it would be more familiar). They certainly never hesitated; they simply did. And it baffled me. I've never heard anyone gossip so freely except family in some situations. And they wouldn't do it outside of family. Maybe it's because I'm not from a small town.

As for the mystery, Lucy is semi-casually looking into this murder while also keeping busy with her family, job, and the holidays. A little bit after the holidays,  toward the end of the book, Lucy discovers (rather than just suspects) who did it and puts into motion a way to stop him (or is it her???).

I thought Mistletoe Murder was a light book and a nice set-up to the rest of series. I will be continuing with the second book, Tippy Toe Murder.